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' in the manner hereinafterV described.

@uitrit tatrs gamut @ffice LEONI-IARD LEGRA, 0F ALLEGHEY CITY, PENNSYLVANIA. Letters .Patent No. 68,758, datedSeptember 10, 1867.

dige fhtult retenes tu im' tlgee'etier'tntt ma 4hitting part uf tige tunic.

TO ALL WHOM IT 'MAY QQNCERN: Y

-Be it known that I, LEONHARD LEGRAN, of the city and county ot' Allegheny, and State of Pennsyl'vania,- have invented a new useful Improvement in Artificial Legs; and I do hereby declare the following to he a4 full and exact description'thereof, reference being hadv to the accompanying drawings, and t0 the lblels 0f reference marked thereon.

The nature ot' my invention consists in providing artificial legs with a series of ilaps` orpads, forthe purpose ofiadapting them to.4 the varied conditions of the stump of the amputated limb of the wearer-, My t invention also onsists in the use and arrangement of a series of springs, bands,-and cords for the purpose of y giving to the foot and log the desired tension andliexion, the whole being arranged, constructed, and operating To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe itsconstruc tion and operation.Y In the accompanying drawings, which form part of my specification Figure 1 representsa front elevation of my improved artificial leg.

Figure 2 represents alongitudinal section of the foot and the lower part of theV leg, showing the orrnngement of the toe-springs, elastic bands and cords, and their relation to the foot and leg. l

Figure 3 represents a transverse section of the series oi flaps or pads cut through at line a', (see lig. 1.)v

Figure 4 represents a perspective view o f the elastic bands and cords, as arranged on the cross-bar, fry the hind part of the leg.

In the drawing, represents the lower part of the ieg, which is made of wood or othersuitable` material, and i is constructed in any of the known forms and by any of the known means. In the lower parthof the legis an adjustable hinge, 14, provided with a screw, 7, and a screw-nut, 10, which screw and nut are used for` takin' up the slack when the joint'of the'hinge Wears loose. This hinge is placed in a cavity made in the leg and marked 12. The foot C is also constructed of'woofl or other suitable material, and is secured to the leg .by y means of two side straps of iron, the form of which is clearly indicated by the dotted linesl in fig. ,2. 'Thrcugl'1t`- these straps and the-hingeldpasses a rod or bolt, z', which, in connection withthe hinge, serves as the pivot` point or ankle-joint for the foot and leg. Theme-piece R is secured to the body of the foot C by means of a, l hinge, r; and between the body of the foot and toe-piece is a V-shaped eavitymarked t, which is covered by a.` hand of leather marked 4J. In the toepiece R and the body of the foot C are made recesses into which are' compressed three elastic springs made of India rubber. The form and arrangement of the recesses and springs, s i and their relation to the foot and toe-piece, will readily be understood by reference to iigs. 1 and 2, atzthe points marked l, m, and fn. The leg A is provided with two cross-pieces orrhars, Sand 9aro11nd which are placed elastic bands 5 and 6, to whichl are attached cords w and y, which are attached to the-footCatfthe points marlged d. In the foot C and leg A are recesses or grooves for, the cords w, y, and 11; `The-cord Iltis used for a check-cord to prevent any undue strain on the bands 5 and 6 and cords w and y, and-alsofor preventing t the foot C from any undue motion or flexion with relation to 'the leg. The arrsngementiof the rccessiesoi' grooves andcords is clearly shown in iig. 2. 'lo the legA is attached a. series of flaps or'padsimarked O,V f

D D', 11d-4', and tWO hinges, g- To the upper part of these hinges are attached flapsiB and B', to'whichare L attached straps 3, buckles w", and the shoulder-strsp or suspender 13. I Y y The object of my improvement is to impart to the artificial leg that tension and flexion' which resembles i the natural leg; This I accomplish by the use of the compressed toesprings Lm, and n, elastic bands 5 and 6,

and cords w, y, and 11,` and their arrangement with relation to the foot and leg.

Another and a very important part and object of my invention is to provide for the' swelling and shrinking 'y of the' stump of the amputated limb. Every man who has had any expcriencein fllrliSlliDg c1 YHlallig'1 artificial legs knows that thcfstump of the amputated leg often sivells, and then again will shrink or shrivel np, and that the artificial made for the stump" villen swollen will not answer for the same stumpn'hn i 1t shrinks or shrivels up, and'that an artificial leg, when made andadapted to a stump when' it is in its cone traeted and shrivelledecnditionwill not suit thesame stump when it swells and becomes inamed, Awhich is i veryr often the case. New, `my improved artificial `leg meets anyand all of these conditions of the stumh'n the ampnt'ated limb. If it is enlarged by infiamma-tion or other cause, the flaps or pads can beadjustsda'i the desired point'.

ALEXANDER HAYS.

let out" to suit the size and condition of thefstump, and if it shrinks and shrivels the flaps or pads can be contracted to suit that condition. This I accomplish by the use of n. series of flaps orpads, which nre-folded' .around the stump and then laced and buckled in accordance with the condition of the stump.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: Having all parte constructed and arranged` 'as herein described and represented, I adjust the artificial leg to the stump of the 'amputated limb. I then adjust the' laps or p'ads O and O to the stump, folding them around it so as to iit closely and neatly. (These flaps or pads should be made of soft leather and cushioned in such manner that willhe soft and smooth.) I then fold the'aps or pads D and D over the flaps or pads O and O, and lace them together by the lacersfand e. (The aps Dand D are made of a good firm leather, but not hard or stiff.) I then buckle around these aps or pads the flap 4, which is made narrower than vthe others, so as not to extend'bclfow the stumpf After the flaps or pads'O O, D D, and 4 are properly adj-usted, folded, laced, and buckled to the stumpff I then fold the flaps B and B around the upper part of the leg; and with the straps 1, 2, and 3, buckle them firmly to it. I then place the strap or suspender over the shoulder, which will complete the process of securing the artificial leg to its place on the stump of the ampntated limb.

In the process of walking with my artificial leg the toe-piece R yields to the pressure brought on it, but always having a tendency to press back, thereby giving to it a. natural flexion. This result is'obtained by the use of the compressed gum springs Z, m, and n. As the toe-piece yields or bends the body of thefoot C moves or works on the hinge 14 at the. ankle-joint; but in moving or working, the hands 5 and 6 and cords w and y impart to the foot C and leg suicient tension to impart to them-a flexion which very much resembles the teneri.

sion and flexion of the natural leg. The cord 11 will check and hold the foot O and leg A from bending beyond Thus, by the combination and arrangement of the toe-springs l, m, and n, and cords w, y, und 11, a natural tension and exion are imparted to the articial leg; und by the use of the flaps or pads O O, D D', and 4, it can be applied to and worn on the stump of the amputated limb'in every condition, and with ease and comfort to the wearer.

Having thus described the nature, construction, and operation of my improvement, what I claim as of my invention isn v The arrangement of the toe-springs l, m, and n, hinge 14, elastic bands 5 and 6, cords w and y, cross-pieces 8 and 9, and check-eord 11, when used in connectionwith the leg A and foot C, the whole being constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.

LEONI-IARD LEGRAN. `.Witnesses:-

JAMES J. JOHNSTON, 

